50000 First Dates: Woman Who Woke Up to a Stranger

What if you woke up one day and forgot everything? Your family, your friends, even the person you love? 50,000 First Dates is a documentary on Prime Video that tells the extraordinary true story of Nesh Pillay, a woman whose sudden memory loss changed her life forever. It’s a journey through love, trauma, and resilience, exploring the science behind her condition and the emotional toll it took on her and those around her.

Nesh Pillay was a single mom from Toronto. She had just started dating JJ Jakope, an Austrian man she met on Tinder. One day, after waking up from a nap, she looked at him and had no idea who he was. She assumed he was her Uber driver. She had lost all her short-term memory and believed she was living in 2008. This is a scenario reminiscent of 50000 First Dates.

JJ immediately called Nesh’s sisters. They rushed her to the hospital. Doctors performed a CT scan, but they found nothing wrong. They told her the memory loss would go away in a few days. But days turned into weeks, then months. Nesh continued to wake up unsure of who she was. She did not recognize her family, including her young daughter.

A Real-Life Version of 50 First Dates

The situation seemed like something out of a movie. In the 2004 rom-com 50 First Dates, Drew Barrymore’s character forgets everything every morning. In real life, Nesh lived through something similar to the concept of 50000 First Dates. But for her, it was not just a quirky love story. It was a mystery about her own brain.

The show dives into Nesh’s life. It explores her childhood and a head injury she suffered in a car accident. That injury may have caused hidden brain trauma. Over the years, she hit her head multiple times. Doctors believe these incidents led to her sudden memory loss. But not all experts agreed. Many doctors thought her problem was psychological, not physical. Some even accused her of faking it.

JJ’s Unwavering Support Raises Questions

Throughout her struggle, JJ recorded their life. He hoped seeing videos of herself would help Nesh regain her memory and took care of her, even though they had just met. He sacrificed his own life to support a woman who could not even remember him, much like an emotional premise of 50000 First Dates.

Their love story is unconventional. Some might find it inspiring. Others might wonder why JJ was so willing to drop everything for someone he barely knew. The documentary explores these questions but leaves many unanswered. Their engagement, despite Nesh’s daily struggles, also adds to the complexity of their relationship.

The 50000 First Dates Story Told in a Non-Linear Way

The documentary jumps between different moments in Nesh’s life. It covers serious issues like brain injuries, therapy, and past trauma. Yet, it maintains an oddly lighthearted tone. This contrast can feel confusing for viewers. Some scenes feel deeply personal, almost too private. Watching intimate videos of Nesh in bed, trying to understand her surroundings, feels intrusive at times, almost like living through 50000 First Dates. 

The two-hour documentary covers a lot, but its structure is scattered. It tells two stories at once—Nesh’s medical mystery and her romance with JJ. While both are interesting, they might have worked better as separate features. The result is a fascinating yet overwhelming watch.

Is the Story Worth Watching?

If you enjoy real-life stories with emotional depth, 50,000 First Dates is worth streaming. But if you prefer a well-structured documentary with clear answers, you might find it frustrating, in light of the complex nature of 50000 First Dates. The story itself is compelling, but its presentation leaves some gaps. It’s an intriguing look at love, memory, and resilience—but it may leave you with more questions than answers.